Health kick at St Benedict's

Wholemeal sandwiches, sugar-free milk shake, nuts, fruit, low-fat yoghurt, freshly squeezed orange juice and water are lined neatly on a table in a room in St Benedict's College, in Kirkop.

The food might seem a little unusual for a tuck shop, but the government school has decided to allow only healthy food to be sold.

In fact, the tuck shop is run by six teachers, who even prepare most of the food themselves to make sure that what they are offering children follows the guidelines of the Health Promotion Department.

"We want to promote the idea of healthy eating and get our pupils used to low-fat and low-sugar food," science teacher Cecilia Agius explains, adding that there is no sugar or salt stored in the school's larder.

Design and Technology teacher Maria Gauci enters the room holding a freshly made, sugar-free bread pudding, the speciality of the week, while in another room, Dorianne Briffa is preparing popcorn without any salt, butter or oil.

The chilled banana milkshake and freshly squeezed orange juice are among the items for sale.

Hanging from the ceiling are small posters with messages on health, while at the end of the room is the food pyramid. Perched on top of the pyramid, among the foods that should be eaten in moderation, is the only bottle of soft drink in the school - and it is not for sale.

The tuck shop provides students with affordable healthy food and introduces them to foods they would otherwise not try.

"Some children say they do not like vegetables, but our ftira is made with vegetable filling - carrots, cabbage, green peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic - and they love them," Ms Agius says.

Although when the tuck shop opened last year children were sceptical about the healthy food policy, they soon came round and started trying the novel food. Not only have they started liking food that is not usually found in tuck shops, but some have also asked for recipes to try them out at home.

Attempts are also made to keep the food sold affordable and this is possible since the shop is not there to make profit. Many items are sold at 10 cents. "We estimate that with 25 cents the students can get something to eat as well as a drink," Ms Gauci says.

Pupils who bring their own lunch might opt to eat inside the tuck shop but the teachers make sure that what they bring with them is healthy.

The school's health policy extends further than the tuck shop: Ms Aguis and Ms Gauci give healthy eating lessons, during which the pupils are urged to try new foods.

The lessons teach children the importance of the cooking method. "It is not enough to use healthy ingredients if you are going to cook the food in an unhealthy way, like frying," Ms Gauci explains, using burgers as an example.

They are also urging positive peer pressure and recount the story of a boy who started bringing rice salad with him, and after some time other students started doing the same. The teachers stress the importance of putting the message across to the parents. The teachers cooked healthy food during the school's open days.

Although tuck shop service is a taxing job for the teachers, they admit it is satisfying to see the pupils eat and like healthy food.

"It is very satisfying to see them buy the food and it shows we are not doing it for nothing," Ms Briffa says.